I’m driving up Dale Street in North Andover this morning, past Smolak Farm. I come around a curve, and ahead of me I see the road has been closed due to paving. There are several barricades across the street. There is a sign that says “Road Closed.” There is an arrow pointing left, telling me which way to take the detour. I turn on my left turn signal.
But yes, there is also a cop there, standing behind the barricades. As I approach, with my signal blinking, his arm comes up, and he points me to the left.
Gee, how would I, or any other driver, have ever gotten past that intersection without the cop pointing the same way as the signs?
This is an officer making somewhere between $30 and $40 an hour, to do a pointless, unnecessary activity – I can’t dignify it by calling it a job.
Tell me, taxpayers – is there a much more absurd use of public safety staffers than the classic “traffic detail?” Is there a much more idiotic way to waste money? The gravy for these details runs into the millions.
Tell me – can anyone say with a straight face that this has anything to do with public safety? This is about money – your money, which is now their money.
And tell me: Is there any chance of this changing? Of course not. This is what the police union wants. It’s written into their contract, which your elected leaders signed. And your elected leaders are too afraid of the union to even try to change it.
